WA Coroner Sarah Linton calls for access road at Redgate Beach in WA’s South West after deaths of Bradley Vincent, Kane Nelson

THE WA coroner has recommended authorities build a road to allow emergency services to access a notorious South West surf spot after the deaths of two body boarders.

Kane Nelson, 22, died as he tried to save his friend Dr Bradley Vincent, 31, after the pair got caught in a rip while bodyboarding at Redgate Beach off Witchcliffe on December 8, 2012.

Today, Coroner Sarah Linton released her findings into their deaths, ruling that they both died from drowning.

During the inquest earlier this year, it was revealed signs at the beach that warned of dangerous conditions had been vandalised the night before their deaths.

The hearing was also told there was no direct route for vehicles to acces the beach, which was problematic for emergency services.

Ms Linton recommended that the Department of Parks and Wildlife take steps to create and maintain a roadway to facilitate direct beach access for emergency vehicles.

She also said other lifesaving assets and equipment should be placed at Redgate Beach and that relevant organisations are informed of how the roadway can be accessed.

In her findings Ms Linton said while it was clear that Dr Vincent, Mr Nelson and Dr Vincent’s uncle, David Bradley, should not have been in the water that afternoon, the trio were “mature, thoughtful and intelligent people” who did not deliberately engage in risky activities.

“They knew how to swim and anticipated they would be able to cope with ordinary ocean conditions,” she said.

“What they did not know was that this particular beach has inherent dangers, even when conditions seem ordinary, and it can rapidly become even more hazardous if the weather conditions change.

“The main reason they did not know this was because the signs that should have informed them had been destroyed in a senseless act of vandalism.

“If they had known this information, there is a strong possibility they would not have made the fatal decision to go into the surf that day.”

Following the tragedy, authorities implemented sturdier and more detailed signage spelling out the dangers at Redgate Beach.

In summing up her findings, Ms Linton said the pair both young men who had “dreams of marrying and having children and living a full life”.

“Those dreams were cut short by the unanticipated events of that day,”she said.

“Their deaths are a reminder to all Western Australians and visitors to this State that the Indian Ocean, while beautiful, can be treacherous and must always be treated with caution.”